Writer/Actress Simone Shepherd is one of the hottest rising stars in the world of comedy. Hailing from Steeler Country, this Pittsburgh native has been gaining much attention for her now well-known 6 second comedy skits on Vine. In only a few months’ time, Simone built an audience of over 2.6 million fans and has been involved with developing creative content for major brands that include Airheads, Wendy’s and Trident. I recently had the opportunity to sit and interview Simone and I was amazed at how many things this girl has going on and how she is capable of handling her success. One thing I can say for sure is that Simone Shepherd is anything but “Ratchet”
Nakisha:
I recall seeing the Beyonce spoofs and thinking “This girl is hilarious”!!! How did you take a simple sketch idea and turn it into a whole series of personalities?
Simone:
My friend Brittany Furlan, the number one girl on Vine, got on Vine when it first started, and was like, “Girl you’d love it!” Once I started I became addicted to being able to create funny content so quickly.
Nakisha:
Where does the inspiration come from when you are thinking of what you want to do next? How do you determine what the audience will enjoy?
Simone:
My ideas come from my life, and my perceptive on things. I never know if my audience will like my content. If I think an idea is funny, then I just go with it.
Nakisha:
With your popularity growing still every day, and many others trying to mirror the same formula that brought you over 2 million followers, do you feel pressure to compete to maintain relevancy?
Simone:
No I don’t feel pressure to compete with anyone other then myself. I don’t force my funny, I just let it flow. I put up some much content in the beginning of my Vine career, but now I’m so busy with all the amazing opportunity that Vine created, it sometimes hard to find the time to Vine as much as I use to.
Nakisha:
You attended North Carolina Central University, where you graduated with a BA in theater. What role do you think your education played in your success?
Simone:
My education was important because it taught me the technique to go along with my natural ability.
Nakisha:
What future projects or collaborations can your fans look forward to in the future? Will we be seeing you on the big screen?
Simone:
Yes, I have a few TV and film project with major networks and studios in development. I’m super excited!
